Mariners boss Russell Slade was pleased with the focus of his side amid an off-field protest at Blundell Park on Saturday.

Some fans gathered outside the stadium pre-match to vent their frustrations, as Grimsby Town continued their search for a long-awaited League Two victory by taking just a point against Cheltenham.

Grimsby Town fans protest at the current management and board outside Blundell Park before the game against Cheltenham. (Image: Jon Corken)

(Image: Jon Corken)

Simeon Jackson netted three minutes into his debut, only to see it cancelled out by Will Boyle in the closing stages.

Slade said: “It was a game that was never going to be easy for us. There were things going off surrounding the football club on Saturday.

“Our players really had to focus and concentrate, in everything they did. My only disappointment comes from the fact they grabbed a goal.

“For all the changes that we had to make, and young players that had to come into the team, I thought the lads had done enough to win the game.”

On the protest, Slade added: “I don’t think anything like that is positive, for sure, but it made it even more important that we focused and concentrated.

Grimsby Town against Cheltenham Town at Blundell Park. Fans protest over the manager and board - some are holding 'Fenty Out' signs (Image: Jon Corken)

“It’s very difficult to be full-on for 90 minutes, but we largely did that and we dealt with the situation.

“We tried to focus on the football, and we tried to focus on doing the right thing.”

Slade, who made two changes ahead of kick-off, while reverting to a 4-4-2 formation, continued: “As I have said since day one, any fans at any football club are entitled to their opinion. It’s as simple as that.

Grimsby Town fans protest at the current management and board outside Blundell Park before the game against Cheltenham. (Image: Jon Corken)

(Image: Jon Corken)

“As long as it’s vented in the right way, and there is nobody subjected to a dangerous situation, then it’s fine and that’s what our nation is about.

“If we are not happy, we protest. But we do it in the right way, I think that’s the most important thing.”